WO2013114057A2

WO2013114057A2 - Method and device for forming a corrugated cardboard box around a mandrel with reference edge

Info

Publication number: WO2013114057A2
Application number: PCT/FR2013/050220
Authority: WO
Inventors: Didier Desertot; François LEBAULT
Original assignee: Otor
Priority date: 2012-02-03
Filing date: 2013-02-01
Publication date: 2013-08-08
Also published as: FR2986511A1; PL2809507T3; ES2687019T3; HRP20181455T1; HUE039493T2; SI2809507T1; PT2809507T; FR2986511B1; RS57761B1; WO2013114057A3; EP2809507A2; EP2809507B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and device for producing a corrugated cardboard box through gluing, based on a cut-out (43), comprising a series of flaps comprising at least four main rectangular flaps with a rectangular fastening tab (49) at the end, said box being arranged to be automatically installed around a mandrel (55, 56) of which the shape complements the inside of the box. The flat cut-out is removed from a stack by taking the top cut-out from a constant-level vertical storage facility of a stack (21) of cut-outs (22), after gluing the tab (49) and flaps, said cut-out is placed in a predetermined location, and the main flap is moved to be adjacent (44) to the main flap (47) to which the fastening tab (49) is connected, exactly opposite a lower or upper surface (45) of the mandrel, such that the lower or upper edges (53) of the mandrel are exactly opposite the fold lines of the cut-out opposite thereto, then said adjacent flap is pressed against the mandrel by upward or downward movement, the flaps are automatically folded around the edges of the mandrel, and the tab (49) previously glued onto the side edge of the adjacent flap by pressure is then pressed against said tab around a reference edge (51) of the mandrel on the side opposite said lower or upper surface.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for producing a box of corrugated sheet material from a cutout comprising a continuation of the invention. at least four rectangular flaps terminated by a rectangular fixing tab and provided with lateral flaps intended to form at least partially the bottom of the box, the latter being arranged to be mounted automatically by folding flaps and flaps around a complementary shaped mandrel inside the box, the end flap of the flap suite and the tab on the one hand and the adjacent flaps on the other hand being fixed together by gluing to form the box.

It also relates to a device for producing a polygonal box.

Numerous devices and methods for forming corrugated cardboard boxes around a mandrel are already known.

Such methods generally include a step of feeding the cut to the mandrel empirically and adjustably and then wrapping around the mandrel with a degree of freedom sufficient so that the cut can be placed in such a way that the fold lines between the flaps are in front of the edges of the mandrel.

Such a positioning of the cuts around the mandrel can be done without too great a precision of positioning the cut on the faces of the mandrel given the adjustments that will be made during the coating.

But such methods, if they are tolerant at the positioning of the cut, have drawbacks when it is desired to change the size of the mandrel to move from a box of a first volume to a box of a second volume .

They require indeed the displacement of the elements, coating and plating of the tongue on the face of the adjacent flap, during the formation of the box, these devices (cylinder, push plate, cleat) finishing the coating, to be positioned in front of the new closing edge of the box on itself.

In other words, such devices, if they make it possible to operate with cutting gripping systems having a relative accuracy, are causing difficulties as soon as it is desired to change the size of the mandrels.

The present invention aims to provide a method and a device that better than those previously known to the requirements of the practice, in particular that they will make it possible to overcome these means of inadvertent displacement of the various compression elements and complicated folding of the prior art, and while allowing a high rate, for example greater than 40 or 50 packages formed per minute and for an affordable and compact in the machine obtained.

To do this, the invention notably starts from the idea of not forming the box around a mandrel so that the face of the feed and / or the removal of the blank is always in the same plane relative to to the frame of the device, as in the prior art, but to position the cut relative to the edge or edges corresponding to the gluing tab which remain fixed relative to the frame of the machine (or what amounts to the same to its food store) whatever the size of the chuck.

In other words it is chosen a location for a reference edge of the mandrel around which the tongue will come to bend, which requires that the machine for feeding the cuts places the cut on the mandrel at different levels and in different planes. fixed x, y, z mark of the device chassis.

This is made possible in particular by the method and the device according to the invention which allow a very high precision in taking the cut and in its implementation at a placement level of the cut on the chuck perfectly controlled.

In other words, there is no longer a plane for feeding the fixed blank with respect to the reference mark constituted by the frame of the machine, with a tongue-folding edge whose location will vary according to the size of the box, but a fixed edge of folding of the tongue relative to the frame and a position of the supply of the variable cut.

For this purpose, the present invention notably proposes a method for producing a box of corrugated sheet material from a cut comprising a series of flaps comprising at least four rectangular main shutters terminated by a rectangular fastening tab, connected to each other by first folding lines parallel to each other, and a first set of lateral flaps arranged on one side and connected to the main flaps by second fold lines perpendicular to the first fold lines and intended to form at least partially the bottom of the box, said box being arranged to be mounted automatically by folding said flaps and flaps of said first set around a complementary shaped mandrel inside the box, the end flap of the flap suite and the tab on the one hand, and the adjacent flaps on the other hand, being fixed together by gluing to form said box, characterized in that

the flat blank is de-stained by taking the cut-out from above from a vertical storage magazine with a constant level of a stack of blanks,

after gluing the tongue and the flaps, placing said cutout at a given location and bringing the main flap adjacent to the main flap which is connected directly or indirectly by an intermediate flap the fastening tab, exactly opposite a the lower or upper face of the mandrel, so that the lower or upper edges of the mandrel is exactly opposite the first fold lines of the cut-out opposite and then said plate is said plate adjacent the mandrel by movement from bottom to top or from top to bottom,

the shutters are automatically folded around the edges of the mandrel,

then the previously glued tongue is pressed against the lateral edge of the adjacent flap, by pressing on said tongue around an edge of reference of the mandrel on the opposite side to said lower or upper face.

Thus, the fold line of the tongue with the adjacent flap coincides with the lower or upper edge of the mandrel, also referred to hereinafter as the reference edge.

In advantageous embodiments, one and / or the other of the following provisions is also used:

the position (pi) of the cut-out of the top of the stack is measured by telemetric means, the trajectory of the unstacking means is calculated as a function of the said position (p ^) and the displacement of the unstacking means is controlled between a cutting input position and the removal position, calculating during the displacement time the path for the next cutting position (Pi ₊ i) and so on;

- To form a box of dimensions and / or shape different from those previously configured, the size of the mandrel is changed while keeping unchanged in a fixed reference relative to the magazine the position of the reference edge of the mandrel around which the tab is folded;

the cutting of the top of the stack is brought to a determined height (constant level),

said cutout is separated from the remainder of the stack by means of pre-unstacking,

said cut is tapped to fit it and keep it separated from the rest of the stack in the gripping position,

the pre-unstacking means are erased, said cutting is grasped by suction using unstacking means,

moving said blank using said unstacking means to bring it to the determined location, and renewing the above step cycle with the next blank cut;

By bringing the cutout to a specific location, it is intended to precisely deposit it directly on the mandrel or at a location which will allow its subsequent movement on the mandrel, without lateral offset during its longitudinal transfer, by means of guide rails and transverse and longitudinal abutments arranged as necessary and within the reach of those skilled in the art so as to release the unstacking means and allow them to fetch the next cut.

the reference edge defining the reference edge, the latter being a lower edge of the mandrel and the determined location being the upper plane of the mandrel, the flap adjacent to the flap to which the fastening tongue is directly or indirectly connected is placed; on the upper face of the mandrel;

- The reference edge defining the reference edge, the latter being an upper edge of the mandrel and the determined location being formed by a surface located exactly opposite the lower face of said mandrel, the plate is attached adjacent flap shutter to which is connected directly or indirectly the fastening tab on the underside of said mandrel;

the cut is pulled using a first set of claws at a reference height X of the stack and separating the cut from above with the next cut by a second set of claws at a height Y located at a distance in height between 1 and 20 mm from the reference X;

- The stack is maintained at the top when the cut of the bottom of the pile has reached a predetermined level and automatically installs a new battery below the remaining portion of the previous stack, to ensure the continuity of unstacking;

the process comprises more than thirty cycles per minute;

it helps to detach the cutout from above the rest of the stack, by blowing air shaving on the top of the cut.

The invention also provides a device for producing a box of corrugated sheet material using a method as described above.

It also proposes a device for producing a box of cardboard sheet material from a cut comprising a series of shutters comprising at least four rectangular main shutters terminated by a rectangular fixing tab, connected to each other by first fold lines parallel to each other, and a first set of side flaps arranged on one side and connected to the main flaps by second fold lines perpendicular to the first fold lines and intended to form at least partially the bottom of the box, said box being arranged to be mounted automatically by folding of said flaps and flaps of said first set around a mandrel of complementary shape inside the box, the end flap of the flap suite and the tongue on the one hand, and the adjacent flaps on the other hand, being fixed between they by gluing to form said box, characterized in that it comprises a vertical storage magazine flat blanks, unstacking means of the top cut from said magazine by suction,

sizing means,

a robotic arm laying horizontally on a reference surface, the main flap adjacent to the main flap to which is directly or indirectly connected by an intermediate flap the fastening tab of said cutout,

means for bringing the main flap adjacent to said main flap at a given location, to which the fixing tongue is directly or indirectly connected exactly opposite a lower or upper face of the mandrel, so that the lower or upper edges of the mandrel mandrel is exactly opposite the first folding lines of the cut opposite,

means for automatically folding the flaps around the edges of the mandrel,

and means for plating the tongue previously glued on the lateral edge of the adjacent flap, by pressing on said tongue around a reference edge of the mandrel on the opposite side to said lower or upper face.

Advantageously, the device comprises telemetric measuring means for the position (pi) of the cut-out of the top and means for calculating the path of the unstacking means according to said position (pi) arranged to control the displacement of said unstacking means between a cutting gripping position and a positioning position on a given work station, and for calculating during the traveling time the path for the next position (Pi ₊ i) cutting and so on.

In advantageous embodiments, the reference edge defining the fixed reference edge relative to the frame of the device, the latter is either a lower edge of the mandrel or an upper edge.

In advantageous embodiments, the means of supplying the adjacent main flap comprise a suction arm, advantageously the same as that used for unstacking, and / or a transfer belt with lateral and longitudinal stops in a manner known in itself. - even.

Advantageously, the device comprises an elevator platform of the stack up to a gripping plane for cutting from above,

pre-unstacking means arranged to separate the cutout from above the rest of the stack and

means for jogging said cutout for framing and keeping it separated from the rest of the stack in the gripping position by the unstacking means after erasing the pre-unstacking means.

In an advantageous embodiment of the holding means in the upper part of the stack when the cut of the bottom of the stack has reached a predetermined level are provided accompanied by setting means in place automatically a new battery. Also advantageously the holding means in the upper part comprise pivoting free cleats in a sliding position along the stack, to adopt a position of support of the bottom of the stack under the effect of gravity when they arrive at the last cutting of the pile.

Advantageously, the device comprises means for assisting in detaching the cut-out from above the remainder of the stack, by blowing shaving air on the top of the cut, for example by means of nozzles inclined with respect to the surface of the cut. cutting the top at a pressure between 1 and 2 bar relative.

Thanks to the invention and its high accuracy

(obtained notably thanks to the vertical magazine allowing an unstacking system of optimized cuts when properly stacked vertically), it becomes possible to simplify considerably the machines and to limit their bulk.

By properly stacked vertically is meant stacked with a tolerance of positioning in the lateral offset of the cuts of plus or minus 1 cm, which is the general case with the cuts of a pallet rimmed in the usual way for its transport.

By thus proposing a system allowing a unitary taking of each cut from a pallet or vertical store properly stacked, it will also be possible to make a series of operations on the cuts between their transfer from the vertical magazine. and their positioning below or on the mandrel, such as for example the inscription of a bar code, an inking, the introduction of an RFID chip or the folding of centering tabs cut in the flaps or flaps, to allow the exact positioning of a lower box with respect to a top box when these are stacked on top of each other.

Advantageously the cutter store is arranged to receive a loaded pallet, for example simply pushed on the elevator platform. The latter is then able to move said pallet vertically and the blanks that it supports up to an observation and / or gripping plane, with, for example, visual detection means allowing the triggering and / or stopping of unstacking sequences.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of embodiments given below by way of non-limiting examples.

It refers to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example of cutting eight sides, before and after folding of centering tongues, used with the method and / or the device according to the invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are schematic views, respectively from the side and in perspective, of a device according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show diagrammatically from the front the principle of the fixed reference edge relative to the frame, in the case of a lower edge (FIG. 4) and an upper edge (FIG. 5), according to the invention . Figures 6 to 10 show side views of the advancing means, pre-unstacking means and unstacking means of a stack according to the embodiment of the invention more particularly described here.

Figures 11 to 13 illustrate the final steps of forming a box embodying an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a blank 1 of corrugated sheet material comprising a suite 2 of eight rectangular flaps terminated by a tab 3 rectangular bonding attachment to a flap ad acent.

The rectangular flaps are interconnected by first folding lines 4 parallel to each other, the flaps being formed by four main rectangular flaps 5, namely two large flaps 5 and two smaller flaps 6 separated in pairs by four intermediate flaps. identical 7.

The cutout 1 also comprises a first set or set 8 of side flaps arranged on one side and connected to the main flaps by second folding 9 perpendicular to the first fold lines 4 and intended to form at least partially the bottom of the box, the intermediate flaps being devoid of flap.

Cutout 1 also has a second set of flaps substantially identical to the first set of flaps to form the top of the box.

A flap on two of the first and second games namely the flaps 11 and 12 respectively of the games 8 and 10 have on two lateral sides 13 at least partly at an outward bias portions flap from the second fold lines 9 or third fold lines 14 connecting the flaps of the second set 10 to the corresponding main flaps.

Each set of flaps 8 and 10 also has second rectangular side flaps connected to the small flaps by the second fold lines and third fold lines.

In the embodiment more particularly described with reference to FIG. 1, the flaps 11 and 12 furthermore comprise elements 16 and 17, respectively, which will make it possible to center two boxes once formed relative to one another, as part of an overlay of one over the other.

More specifically, the flaps 11 comprise, for example, recesses 16, for example square, and the flaps 12 opposite the second set comprise lateral tabs 18, of a shape complementary to the recesses 16, which when folded and glued to the flap corner opposite (as shown in the second part of Figure 1 in 19) will allow to fit into the recesses 16 of the flaps 11 during the superposition of a box on the other.

Such an arrangement allows a centering of the boxes between them and avoids their relative sliding especially during their transport on a pallet.

The second set of flaps is intended to form the top of the box.

FIG. 2 shows a device 20 according to one embodiment of the invention, for the embodiment of a corrugated cardboard box from a stack 21 of blanks 22 of the type described with reference to FIG.

The stack 21 is vertical at a constant level 23.

It comprises means which make it possible to depilate the cut-out of the top 24 in a manner to be described hereinafter, lifting it vertically (arrow 25) and then moving it horizontally (arrow 26) towards gluing means 27, 28 depositing respective adhesive streaks from below and above in a manner known per se, and then to precisely place said blank above the mandrel 29. In this embodiment the flap 5 adjacent to the flap 6 at which is connected the fastening tab 3 is placed exactly opposite and facing the upper face 30 of the mandrel, so that the upper edges 31, 32 of the mandrel are exactly opposite the first fold lines 4 of the cutting in opposite.

Then plate (confers figure 2) the adjacent flap on the mandrel by movement from top to bottom (arrow 33). After having folded automatically the flaps that hang 6, 7 around the mandrel by pushing means 34 known in themselves is just pressed the tongue 3 previously glued by the gluing agents 28, on the lateral edge of the adjacent flap 7, by pressure of said tongue around a reference edge of the mandrel opposite said upper face 30 via the pushing jacks 35.

In Figure 3 there is shown the bottom pusher plate 36 adapted to be deployed vertically to come to press the lower flap on the underside of the mandrel. Other cylinders pushers 37 are provided so as to reach those skilled in the art to complete the coating. The stack 22 of cuts, vertical comprises means 38 of pre-unstacking, said unstacking means 39 provided with a system formed by a partly horizontal arm 40 having for example branches 41 parallel to each other, supplying compressed air and suction cup position 42, namely six suction cups (two per branch).

Figures 4 and 5 show schematically the principle implemented in the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the case where the cut-out 43 is brought from above so that the main adjacent flap 44 is placed accurately on the upper face 45 of the mandrel 46.

When the main flap 47 is folded down (arrow 48), the tab 49 adjacent thereto is positioned 50 opposite the cut corner 51 of the chuck on the other side.

After coating the two other main flaps the last intermediate flap 52 is placed so that the fold line 4 between one side of the fastening tab 50, and the other side the last intermediate flap 52, is screwed to screw edges 53, which will thus always be positioned at the same location relative to the frame 54, that the mandrel is a large mandrel 55 or a small mandrel 56.

All sizes between the small mandrel 56 and the large mandrel 55 can thus be adapted (see arrows 57), the edge or the reference edges 53 remaining fixed relative to the frame. On the contrary, the cutouts 43 or 58, of greater or lesser size depending on the size of the mandrel, are positioned at a different location relative to the frame.

Such a differential installation is only possible thanks to the high accuracy obtained in the capture and subsequent deposition by the same machine of the cut on the mandrel from the vertical magazine.

There is shown in Figure 5 another embodiment of reference edges. This time the cutouts 59 or 60 are fed from below, the edge, corner or reference edge 61 being located on the top of the mandrel.

Again, that the mandrel is a small mandrel

62, or a large mandrel 63, the reference edge 61 will always remain at the same location relative to the XYZ mark, linked to the frame.

The fastening tongues can thus be pushed back by pushing means 65 (for example controlled by an automaton and / or comprising motor brains in a manner known per se) always located in the same place without any need to adjust them and / or move them.

In fact, the invention is only possible thanks to a great precision in the handling of the cuts deposited on the mandrel and / or under the mandrel.

In the embodiment more particularly described (see FIGS. 6 to 10) this is made possible in particular thanks to the advancing means 66 of the stack 22 comprising pre-unstacking means.

In an advantageous mode the advancing means comprise a lifting plate 67 (two angles) horizontal support of the last cut of the bottom of the stack 21 of blanks 22 and a jack 68 pusher vertically controlled by an automaton 69 allowing a rise of the programmed tray as and when the removal of cuts, for example all four cuts. This command is controlled by optical measuring means 70. More precisely, these optical means are associated, in a manner known per se, with means 71 for measuring telemetry (pi) of the cutout 72 on top and means 73 for calculating (microprocessors) the trajectory of the unstacking means 39 as a function of said position (Pi), arranged to control the displacement of the unstacking means between a gripping position (plane 74) of the blank, and a positioning position on a specific workstation, here in this case on the mandrel, and to calculate during the travel time (in masked time) the trajectory for the next position (pi ₊ i) cutting and so on.

The diagram of the followed times is for example of the following type:

- Initialization with choice of offset values according to a format stored in the database,

- moving the robotic arm to the magazine reference and depending on the offset of the format,

- reading by telemetry of the initial position if necessary and / or calculation of the initial position,

- calculation of the trajectory

- Re-marking on the reference of the cut-out magazine,

- once the position is reached, calculation and then descent on the cutting according to values predetermined or following values that are measured through telemetry,

- Vacuum cupping to suck the cut,

- execution of the trajectory then if there was reading of the telemetry height,

calculation of the return trajectory and if not withdrawal of the parameters of the trajectory in the database,

- stop the vacuum to drop the cut to the proper place,

- execution of the return trajectory,

and restarting the cycle.

The pre-unstacking means 75 comprise a horizontal robotic arm 76 provided with at least four suckers 77 for pre-empting the cut 72, the arm being fastened to a vertical rod 78 which is eccentric relative to the stack, arranged next to the latter .

The rod 78 is guided and fixed by a sleeve 79 to a chain 80 of operation between a position 81 in phantom in Figure 6, and a position 82 in phantom in Figure 7, gripping and exhausting the cutting above the jogging means 83, a position 84 (FIG. 8) for depositing the cutout on said jogging means 83, for gripping in the plane 74 and a position 85 (FIG. 9) for escaping in height and lateral allowing the unstacking means 39 to take the cut 72.

More specifically, the jogging means 83 comprise on either side of the volume occupied by the cell 22, chutes 86 for example formed by two tubes having a cross-sectional shape. of C whose opening of the branches is located on the side of the pile.

In these chutes are mounted movable in translation and parallel to the branches of C, respectively, at least two sliding lugs 87 formed by metal tongues provided in the upper part 88, a lug 89 abutment of the periphery 90 of the blank 72, to precisely frame it, and maintain it on said stops in the stop position once they moved from their exhaust position.

The tabs 87 are for example activated by a system of small cylinders with return spring (not shown) to return to the nominal exhaust position at rest.

They are controlled by the controller 69 to move said tabs between their stop position and their exhaust position.

As the pre-unstacking and unstacking means operate, the stack 22 of blanks empties and the plate formed by the angles 67, which supports the last blank 91, rises. There comes a time when it is in such a position that can automatically trigger the holding means 92 in the upper part of the stack.

These means are for example constituted by cleats 93 free in rotation, pivoting between a position 94 (see Figure 6 to 9) and a position 95 (see Figure 10) supporting the bottom of the stack under the effect of gravity .

More specifically, the holding means 92 comprise the cleats 93 formed by a free piece that is rotatable relative to an axis 96. secured to a rod 97 of height adjustment fixed to the chassis 98 of the device.

The tabs have an end lug 99 arranged to slide along the edge 100 of the stack, the lug 99 having for example a substantially triangular section forming a contact tip with the edge of the stack.

When the tip of the lug 99 is no longer in contact with the edge of the stack, because it is too high, said edge is no longer retained and the cleat pivots about its axis 96 by gravity.

It is then arranged to be placed in a horizontal stop position 101, on which the last cutout 102 can come to rest, releasing the plate formed by the angles 67.

It is then possible to lower it by actuating the pusher cylinder vertically to its initial low position. Then can be put back on the plate a new stack of cuts for example by pushing from a pallet.

Then simply raise the stack until it comes into contact with the pins 93, which will then rotate until the last cut of the rest of the top stack comes into contact with the first cut of the bottom stack.

In this way, a stack is completely reconstituted without breaking the load in order to produce boxes according to the invention.

To facilitate the detachment of the top cut at high speed is provided rasping air blowing nozzles (not shown) inclined relative to the surface of the cut and blowing air on the top of the cut for example at a pressure between 1 and 2 bar relative.

The implementation of the method and device according to the invention will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 and 11 to 13.

From the magazine 21 comprising the vertical stack 22 of cuttings, the cutout of the top 24 is brought to a given height (FIG. 2), then said cutout is tapped to frame it and keep it separated from the rest of the stack by the means of pre-unstacking as indicated above then, after erasing the pre-unstacking means, it is grasped (FIG. 2) the cutting by suction using the unstacking and displacement means of the cut-off thus grasped at the coating station around the mandrel.

More specifically, the device comprises the arm 40, which makes it possible to bring a cutout of a single movement after tearing it to its assembly station above the mandrel (FIG. 11).

The cutout 24 or 43 (see FIG. 4) is then deposited very precisely on the mandrel and more particularly the flap 44 is deposited on the upper face 45 of the mandrel, the fold lines being placed above the edges of the mandrel by means of the high precision obtained on the one hand because of the initial starting position of the cut which is on a perfectly calibrated vertical stack, and on the other hand the possibility of making a perfect capture and a displacement to the nearest tenth of a millimeter in the OXYZ mark relative to the frame of the device. Then, and as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the coating is carried out around the mandrel by coming to press the bottom flap 44 'towards the upper flap 44 via the pusher plate 36 and then the tongue 50 on the intermediate flap 52 around the two lower edges 53 of the mandrel.

According to the invention, these are always arranged at the same position relative to the frame, which makes (see FIG. 4) that when the mandrel decreases to become smaller (mandrel 56, for example FIG. 4) to adapt to different cutouts, smaller, the edge 52-53 is always maintained in the same place, which greatly facilitates the operation of the device and in particular to avoid moving height cylinders 65 and other pushing plates.

Once the package is finished and the flaps folded over the face 110 of the mandrel, the body 111 is ejected as shown in FIG.

When the stack reaches the top, the lower cut of the stack exceeding a certain level, the controller detects the tilting of the cleats in known manner in itself.

Without stopping the device, which continues to empty the battery over the tabs, the cart goes down and moves into position to receive a new battery on hold.

This is then pushed in a known manner automatically to position itself under the rest of the previous stack.

Then the new battery is reassembled to fit the rest of the previous stack, thus avoiding any break in the rate of formation of the boxes.

As it goes and as it follows from the foregoing, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment more particularly described. On the contrary, it incorporates all the variants and that in particular the cuts are of different shapes.

Claims

A method for producing a box of corrugated sheet material from a blank (1, 43, 58, 59, 60) having a flap suite (2) comprising at least four main flaps (5). , 6) terminated by a rectangular fastening tongue (3, 49) connected to each other by first folding lines (4) parallel to each other, and a first set (8) of lateral flaps arranged one side and connected to the main flaps by second fold lines (9) perpendicular to the first fold lines (4) and intended to form at least partially the bottom of the box, said box being arranged to be mounted automatically by folding of said flaps and flaps of said first assembly around a complementary shaped mandrel (29; 46; 55; 56; 62; 63) within the box; the end flap of the flap suite and the tongue of on the one hand, and the adjacent flaps on the other which are fixed together by gluing to form said box, characterized in that

the flat blank is de-ground by taking the cut-out of the top (24, 72) from a vertical storage magazine with a constant level (23) of a stack (21) of blanks (22),

after gluing the tongue (3) and the flaps, placing said blank at a given location and bringing the adjacent main flap (5, 44) to the main flap (6, 47) to which is connected directly or indirectly by an intermediate flap the tongue (3, 49) for fixing exactly opposite a lower or upper face (30, 45) of the mandrel (29, 46, 62, 63), so that the lower or upper edges (31, 32, 53) of the mandrel (29) are exactly opposite the first lines folding (4) of the cut-out opposite and then said adjacent shutter is pressed on the mandrel by movement from bottom to top (33) or from top to bottom,

the flaps (6, 7) are folded automatically around the edges of the mandrel,

then the tongue (3) previously glued on the lateral edge of the adjacent flap (7) is pressed against said tongue around a reference edge (51, 61) of the mandrel on the opposite side to said lower or upper face. .

Process for the production of a box of sheet material according to claim 1, characterized in that

the position (pi) of the cut-out of the top is measured by telemetric means (71), the trajectory of the unstacking means is calculated (73) as a function of the said position (p ^) and the movement of the said means (39) is controlled ) unstacking between an input position (74) of the cut and the position of removal, calculating during the displacement time the path for the next position (Pi ₊ i) cutting and so on.

3. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, to form a box of dimensions and / or shape different from those previously configured, the size of the mandrel is changed while keeping unchanged in a fixed reference relative to the store the position of the reference edge (51, 61) of the mandrel (46, 62, 63) around which the tongue is folded.

4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

said cutout is separated from the remainder of the stack by means (38) of pre-unstacking,

the means (38, 75) of pre-unstacking are erased, said cut is grasped by suction by means of unstacking means (39),

said cut is moved using said means

(39) unstacking to bring it to the determined location,

and the above cycle of steps is repeated with the next overhead cut.

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the reference edge (51) defining the reference edge, the latter being a lower edge of the mandrel and the determined location being the upper plane of the mandrel, the adjacent main shutter (5, 44) to the main shutter (6, 47) to which the fastening tongue (3, 49) is directly or indirectly connected to the upper face (30, 45) of the mandrel (29, 46).

6. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the reference edge (61) defining the reference edge, the latter being an upper edge of the mandrel and the determined location being formed by a surface located exactly in screws. opposite the lower face of said mandrel, the main flap adjacent to the main flap is connected to which is directly or indirectly connected to the fixing tab on the underside of said mandrel (62, 63).

7. Method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the cut is tapped using a first set of claws at a reference height X of the stack and is separated from the top cutout of with the next cut by a second set of claws at a height Y located at a distance in height between 1 and 20 mm from the reference X.

8. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stack is maintained in the upper part when the cut of the bottom of the pile has reached a determined level and it automatically sets up a new battery below the part remaining from the previous battery, to ensure the continuity of unstacking.

9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises more than thirty cycles per minute.

10. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it helps to detach the cut from above the rest of the stack, by blowing air grazing on the top of the cut.

11. Device for producing a box of corrugated sheet material from a blank (1, 48, 58, 59, 60) comprising a sequence (2) of flaps comprising at least four main flaps (5). , 6) rectangular ended with a tongue (3) rectangular fastening, connected to each other by first fold lines (4) parallel to each other, and a first set (8) of side flaps arranged on one side and connected to the main flaps by second fold lines (9) perpendicular to the first fold lines (4) and intended to form at least partially the bottom of the box, said box being arranged to be mounted automatically by folding said flaps and flaps of said first set around a mandrel (29) of complementary shape inside the box, the end flap of the sequence of flaps and the tongue on the one hand, and the adjacent flaps on the other hand, being fixed together by gluing for forming said box, characterized in that it comprises

a vertical blank magazine (22), means (39) for unstacking the top blank (24, 72) from said vacuum magazine (77),

sizing means (28),

a robotic arm (76) laying horizontally on a reference surface, the main flap adjacent to the main flap to which is connected directly or indirectly the fastening tab of said cutout,

means for bringing the adjacent main flap (5, 44) to said main flap (6, 47) at a given location to which the fastening tongue (3, 49) is directly or indirectly connected to a face lower or upper (30, 45) of the mandrel (29, 46, 62, 63) so that the lower or upper edges (31, 32, 53) of the mandrel is exactly opposite the first fold lines (4) of the cut-out opposite

means (34, 36, 37) for automatically folding the flaps around the edges of the mandrel,

and means (35) for plating the tongue previously glued on the lateral edge of the adjacent flap, by pressing on said tongue around a reference edge of the mandrel on the opposite side to said lower or upper face.

12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises means (71) of telemetric measurement of the position (p ^) of the cutout of the top and means (69, 73) for calculating the trajectory of the means ( 39) of unstacking according to said position (pi) arranged to control the displacement of said unstacking means between a seizure position (74) of the blank and a position of positioning on a given work station, and to calculate during the displacement time the trajectory for the next position (Pi ₊ i) cutting and so on.

13. Device according to any one of claims 11 and 12, characterized in that the reference edge (51) defining the reference edge, the latter being a lower edge of the mandrel and the determined location being the upper plane of the mandrel, the supplying means at a given location comprise a sucker removal arm (77) on the adjacent main flap (5, 44) to the main flap (6, 47) to which the tongue (3, 49) is connected. fixing on the upper face (30, 45) of the mandrel (29, 46).

14. Device according to one of claims 12 and 13, characterized in that the reference edge (61) defining the reference edge, the latter being an upper edge of the mandrel and the determined location being formed by a surface located exactly opposite the underside of said mandrel, the means for bringing the flap adjacent to the flap to which is connected the fixing tab on the underside of said mandrel comprise a conveyor belt with lateral and longitudinal stops of the cut.

15. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that it comprises a lifting plate (67, 68) of the stack to a gripping plane for cutting from above, means (38, 75 ) pre-unstacking arranged to separate the cutout from above the rest of the stack and

means (83) for jogging said cutout to frame it and keep it separated from the remainder of the stack in the gripping position by the unstacking means (39) after erasure of the pre-unstacking means.

16. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that it comprises means (92) for maintaining the upper part of the stack when the cut of the bottom of the stack has reached a predetermined level and means of automatic introduction of a new battery below the remaining part of the previous battery, to ensure the continuity of unstacking.

17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the holding means (92) in the upper part comprise cleats (93) free pivoting between a sliding position along the edge (100) of the cut pile and a supporting position of the bottom of the stack under the effect of gravity.

18. Device according to any one of claims 15 to 17, dependent on claim 15 characterized in that the jogging means comprise a first set of claws at a reference height X of the stack and a second set of claws to a height Y located at a distance in height between 1 and 20 mm from the reference X, for separation of the top cutout with the next cut.

19. Device according to any one of claims 11 to 18, characterized in that it comprises means for assisting the separation of the cut from above the rest of the stack, by blowing air grazing on the top of the cutout .

20. Device according to claim 19, characterized in that the blown air is injected by nozzles inclined relative to the surface of the top cut at a pressure between 1 and 2 bar relative.

21. Device according to any one of claims 16 to 20 dependent on claim 15, characterized in that the cutting magazine comprising a pallet,

the elevator plate (67, 68) is arranged to vertically move said pallet and the cutouts it supports to an observation and setting plane, and in that it comprises means of visual detection.